The flag of the Soviet Union consisted of a plain red flag, with a hammer crossed with a sickle (the hammer and sickle) in the upper canton. The hammer and sickle symbolized the nation's workers and peasants united and equal. Versions used prior to 1992 had a red star atop the hammer and sickle, representing the unity under the Communist Party.

The first flag with the hammer and sickle and red star was adopted on November 12, 1923. In 1955, a statute on the flag was adopted which resulted in a change of the hammer's handle length and the shape of the sickle. A further modification to the flag was adopted in 1980 in which the color was brightened to light red. The flag was modified again in 1992, in which the red star was removed from the flag.

Contents

New flag

Flags of the Soviet Union.

Flags of the Soviet Union, with a statue of Vladimir Lenin in the background.

After the signing of the New Union Treaty, the debate grew as to whether the flag of the USSR would change. According to Gorbachev, there were no immediate plans to change the flag. Many republics preferred to use their own flags. Several flew flags with the symbols removed, while several proposed changing the red to blue.

Prior to the adoption of the 1992 Constitution, the Supreme Soviet agreed to modify the flag of the Soviet Union to express the countries new views. Supporters of Gorbachev and other pro-communists eventually agreed to simply remove the red, gold-bordered star from the flag, and enlarge the hammer and sickle to a degree. The flag was mentioned in the 1992 Constitution.

“

The State Flag of the Union of Soviet Sovereign Republics is a rectangle of red cloth with a hammer and sickle depicted in gold in the upper corner next to the staff. The ratio of the width of the flag to its length is 1:2.

”

The new constitution and the flag were adopted on May 14, 1992. Flag etiquette laws would later be adopted on January 12, 2002.

Symbolism

The hammer and sickle has been a symbol of the Soviet Union since the October Revolution in 1917. The hammer represented the proletariat, while the sickle represented the peasantry, with the two uniting together in harmony. Prior to the adoption of the new flag in 1992, a red star grazed over the hammer and sickle, representing them uniting under Communism.

The red field is meant to represent the blood shed by the Soviet people in honor of their people and of their children.

Etiquette

Folding

Stage

Description

Example

First

The flag is folded in half horizontally.

Second

The flag is folded by a third towards that hammer and sickle.

Third

The final third is folded back.

Fourth

The hammer and sickle is visible in a square.

Finial

Finial of the USSR.

A flag finial is an ornament that is placed on top of the flagstaff as a piece of decoration. Soviet law states that if the flag is used by government bodies for certain occasions, such as ceremonies and other solemn events, the Soviet flag is to be topped with a finial, diamond-shaped with a star attached to the bottom. The star, according to law, has five points and must be of the same design as the one in the Soviet coat of arms. If the flag belongs to a military organization, ribbons can be placed on this golden shaft.